iTunes

Everything you need to know about today’s iPhone 5 event

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

The iPhone 5 is finally here.

After Apple in 2011 unveiled the iPhone 4S -- when everyone and his mother expected the iPhone 5 -- the wizards of Cupertino introduced a smartphone for everyone. Want something smaller? Check. How about a big screen? Got you covered. Need power? No problem. Although this was the first post-Steve Jobs iPhone rollout, there was enough technology and geekitude on display today that even the Man in Black would have had a tough time fitting in just one more thing.

Most of the rumors about the iPhone were confirmed. The iPhone 5 sports a 4-inch (1136 x 640) display enclosed in an aluminum and glass shell. That larger display is becoming defacto on smartphones. Not to be outdone designwise by Android, Apple pushed suppliers to use an in-cell manufacturing technique that embeds the technology used in an edge-to-edge touchscreen, eliminating the need for a separate layer.

Ping to go offline for good on September 30th

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Alongside a slew of other announcements, Apple has posted an official kill-date for its Ping social network. It appears that the service will be going offline at the end of the month.

We've known for a while now that Apple's iTunes-based social network was on the way out. After a quiet release in late 2010, the service has failed to gain much traction with users...

iTunes 10.7 is out, get downloading

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2012

Hot on the heels of today's presser that brought us the new iPhone 5, revamped iPod nano, improved and redesigned iPod touch, the new EarPods and other tidbits, Apple has also just released iTunes 10.7. This release represents a minor update to the jukebox software, designed to provide support for iOS 6 (when it goes live a week from today) running on iPods, iPads and iPhones. This isn't the completely re-written, buttery smooth iTunes 11 that Apple mentioned during the announcement - that one is officially due in October...

iTunes 11 takes cues from iOS in complete redesign

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 12, 2012

As expected, iTunes has been completely overhauled, and the changes look to be significant.

Taking obvious cues from the mobile space, albums open on the same screen, similar to folders on iOS. Along with the obvious visual differences comes new inline searching, and a mini player, which is sure to enthuse minimalists.

Expect sleeker, faster iTunes 11 today as well

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2012

iTunes, Apple's more than a decade old jukebox and digital content management software, could be updated today alongside the iPhone, iPod and possibly iMac and the AirPort wireless base station lineup.

This comes by way of search engine queries that also revealed the iPhone 5 name earlier today alongside LTE, new iPod touches and revamped nanos.

This information aligns nicely with a Bloomberg report earlier in the summer which claimed iTunes would receive a substantial makeover by year's end...

Apple website confirms iPhone 5 name, LTE, iTunes 11, new iPod touch and iPod Nano

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Who would believe that Apple's own website could be such a great source of information when it comes to finding out what we can expect from today's event?

As if there were any doubts that the new iPhone will indeed be called the "iPhone 5", a quick search on Apple's website gives us the confirmation we need...

Apple to launch Russian iTunes Store with tracks under $0.99

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 7, 2016

Apple is planning to open an iTunes store in Russia later this year or early 2013, a local business journal reports. The Russian iTunes Store could offer music cheaper than in the US. While licensing deals are still underway, the Cupertino, Calif. digital music giant is expected to unveil tracks costing under $0.99, the newspaper says.

The supposed deal could prop up flagging Russian sales of digital music. While physical music sales are in free-fall, even digital music purchases -- which have been growing elsewhere -- dropped by 40 percent to levels not seen since 2009. The chief reason: "a culture of copyright infringement," according to music industry group IFPI. The nation's leading music service is operated by vKontakte, which also offers file-sharing, according to the IFPI.

WSJ: Apple working on Pandora-like music streaming service [updated]

Cody Lee ∙ September 6, 2012

As next week's iPhone event draws nearer, and rumors of an October gig continue to swirl, the tech world is scrambling to figure out what Apple will announce. We know new hardware is on the menu, but what about software?

Obviously iOS 6 is about to launch, and we continue to hear talk of an iTunes refresh. But according to a new report, Apple has something else up its sleeve: a custom-radio service, similar to Pandora, that will stream music...

iOS 6 may bring iBooks to Apple TV

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Until now, Apple TV seemed to assume the role of livingroom entertainment center. However, the device may soon find a new home: the classroom. The latest beta of iOS 6 suggests Apple could display digital textbooks on large in-class screens, vastly updating how schools teach.

The clue came in an error displayed when AppleInsider downloaded an e-book from Apple's iBookstore. Since the Apple TV unit shared the same iTunes account, a message appeared that an automatic download of the book failed because the device did not have the needed software. The iBooks software already exists for the iPhone and iPad...

Bruce Willis goes after Apple over iTunes music ownership (update: wife debunks)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Die Hard trilogy star Bruce Willis is reportedly considering legal actions against Apple over iTunes policy which governs the ownership of digital music files. The actor has amassed a music collection worth thousands of dollars that is being accessed via "many, many iPods".

The action hero is keen on handing his vast digital music collection legitimately to his daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallaluh upon his death. Conversely, Willis has eventually discovered that under Apple's pesky rules one does not actually own the tracks and instead borrows them under a non-transferable license.

Deciding enough is enough, the 57-year-old actor is reportedly prepping to unleash legal sharks on Apple in order to break Cupertino's restrictive digital content policy, which could have major repercussions given Apple's choke-hold of the music market...

Apple releases new app and iTunes copyright claims tools

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

It seems that Apple is starting to take some major steps to cut down on the amount of copyright and content infringement found in iTunes, and more specifically, the App Store.

Yesterday, we noted that it had rejected an app because its icon looked too similar to that of another. And today we've learned that it's launched new copyright claims tools...

Apple rolls out streaming iTunes Festival app to Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Apple kicks off its annual iTunes Festival in London next month, which will include 30 days worth of free concerts. Several notable stars are expected to perform at the event, including Usher, OneRepublic and David Guetta.

And here's how you can watch the whole thing for free...